Method of producing stage effects.



c. F. DE. 80M.

METHOD or PRODUCING STAGE EFFECTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 4 1914- 2 1,186.29? I Pzz'i'entedune 1916.

2 SHEETQ-SHEET I,

WITNESSES IN V51! TOR A TTURIL'E V C. FPDE SORIA. METHOD OF'PRODUCING STAGE EFFECTS.

Patented June 6, 1916.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 4,1914.

y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR yf/Jywfiw/ WITNESSES @1 5. $111M ZM% tp 'P/zmxz/ ATTORNEY METHQD 93E PRUDUCING STAG-E EFFECTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1 315.

Application. filed September 4, 1914.. Serial No. 880,139.

To all whom it may, concern:

llc it known that l, Cn'ixnnns F. on Scum, a citizen of the Uni'lccl States, ainl resident oi the borough of lilanhat'mn, city, county 5 and Shire of liew York, have invented certain new and useful improvements, in the Method, oi. Producing Stage Effects, of which the following is ii specification.

The object oi? my invention to provicle m a. combination of CQl'lll'llll living niedi who will assume artistic poses and certain color and scene effects which will in instance harmonize with the poses of the iinoilels.

in the past a stereopticon lanterii has been used in combination with a dancer or with a single individual, but one of the most important features of my invention the combining of a plurality of figures upon a single EC) slide. Because of the iiillicul'l-ies of obtainingregister th has never before been attempted anfl wherever a plurality of figures were to he used a plurality of lanterns have also been used, and the figures received he pro 5 jectei'l image from each lantern irnie iiench enily. il ilzh my device I utilise what am pleased "lo term a keyboard, anil the success of my undertaking; depends upon an unrlerstancling of the key-boiril and the proper 3o adjustment of the lanterns curl figures in relation. shereto. I also employ u plurality of lanicrns to obtain certain artistic olicc'izs and I employ certain blinils or shutters which per form important functions.

ll. complete description. of ihis methoil of operation will appear as the specification progresses.

'ihe following is what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention, and 4.3 the accompanying drawing forins a. pari oi.

this specification. in which l ig'urc 1 shows an elevation of stage set for the proiluccion oi? my effects. Fig. 2 is a. side view of the stage showing he location 45 of the lanterns. Fig. 3 shows one of the sliclcs.

E milsr reference numerals indicate like parts, in all figures where shey appear and in ii sing my invention 1 will describe is in rotation commencing with the on; the apparatus useil ihcreoil l have shown blie floor of she siege "he proscenium arch ancl iii? the clrop whnlr usuall extends a "few feet below the oil arch one. u oil for screening she upper ends of the wings or drops. 4: 21ml 5 indicate 'lawo oriliu a ry wings. All oi these parts may he of ordinary construction and require no change to be operated. successfully with my invention. A1. 6 I show u screen which iney be white and formed from scrim or an opaque material. About midlength of this screen and e:-;i:encling upward. from the lower edge thereof, l: arrange an arch which may be of any desired size as indicalecl at 7 and a pair. of curtains 8 and 9 which when opened. disclose to view a grotto in which my models are posed. This grotto consists of a white and preferably opaque baclo ground, and sides or wings sufficient to exclude cross lights, and upon the floor of the grotto I place a board or platform thus '1 will sometimes refer to as a keyboard. This lazy-hoard is an important element and conoi? bourcls covered or painted white ancl having upon the upper surface a plurality of characters as indicated A 10. lg is by the means of these characters that the models used in. my eli'ect are enabled "so as some the proper positions and to harmonize wish the rojector scene that is to he re ceivccl upon the screen.

in the best operation of my invention if use a lairbern or projector or stereopiiicon as i5; is usually callecl. l niayarrunge the lan tern a; any (lisiance away from the stage just described, as l have ifOullCl ihoi; by urranging she lantern quite close to the stage that may obtain an effect highly artistic and very satisfactory.

I will now describe one ofclhe most iinpertain; element-s oi my invention, that is the slide shown in Fig. 3. In connection wiizh this Sllllfi it will be nosed use the features of the figure shown. (10 not appear. The fee.- iures are to be supplied by the moclels or figures usecl in the efiect. I however color the slideto an extent suiiiciens to produce ill ill"

the effect of robes 0r costumes which will I appear as clraped upon the models when the models are harmonized or are in register with the projected scene.

ll: is well known that the scene can nol be observed by she person posing, the location sons or models must be cont-rolleil entirely by the key-hoard, and the arrange men's the properties such as perlestals, anrl oiihcr :i urnishings are also controlled by she l ey-b cl.

producing this eil'ect numberori moridressed. It is possible to els are used. The models are dressed in tights. The color of the screens is usually white with a darkened stage. The models assume positions indicated by the key-board and then when the light from the lantern is projected upon the screen the lantern projects a scene of which the models become a part. It is possible with this method of operation to project upon the models or figures representations of gowns so that to the observer the models appear fully so fully blend the figures with'the scene or picture of which they are a part that the lineof demarcation between the two is not observable.

Although I have shown the use of but two figures, it will be understood that a greater number of figures may be employed with a correspondingnumber of models who must be well trained to assume their proper positions. It will also be observed that further modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the principle or sacrificing the condition of this invention. I may increase or decrease the size of the arch 7. Lay figures may be used instead oi. living :uiodels.

Having carefully. do; ribed my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

l. The method of forming a. theatrical scene consisting of placing a figure and a back ground therefor substantially in the focus of a n'ojecting apparatus and then projectingupon the back ground a scene of which the figure Forms an. integral part.

The method oi forming a theatrical. scene consisting of placing a figure and a back ground therefor substantially in the focus of a projecting apparatus and then projcctinp upon the figure and back ground a scene of which the figure forms an integral part.

Signed at New York' city, this 7th day of August "Ulla:

CllAS. ll. or. SORIA. Witnesses:

G. lil. Stri-unu'rru, An'ron Inrmrs h'laim. 

